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Seller of old treasures needs votes to win Dell contest
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Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Mother-daughter team Jessica Poole, left, and Renee Poole are seen Wednesday in their Las Vegas business, Call Renee Estate Liquidation. The business is a finalist in a contest that will award $25,000 worth of Dell computers and a MasterCard good for $50,000. » Buy this photo
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Although Renee Poole has dealt in antiques for more than 20 years, she thinks that her office computer running Windows 97 is a little too dated.
She still occasionally writes out receipts by hand rather than make customers wait for a printout.
Eager to make a leap forward in business technology, Poole and her daughter, Jessica, will spend the next few days campaigning for votes needed to win an online contest offering computers and money to a deserving small business.
Judges in the nationwide competition sponsored by Dell picked Call Renee Estate Liquidation as one of 10 finalists for $25,000 worth of Dell computers loaded with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 7 and a MasterCard good for $50,000. The winner will be selected through a popular vote, with balloting through Oct. 9 at www.youtube.com/dellbusiness.
Applicants were required to submit a video explaining what they would do with the assistance. Submissions from all 10 finalists are posted on YouTube.
The judges didn't say how many business owners applied, or how finalists were chosen.
The winner will star in a six-part reality show to be shown on YouTube.
"We have been fortunate just to keep going in this economy so we have not been able spend on anything," Renee Poole said.
Poole's consignment store, which she opened seven years ago, snakes though several rooms covering 12,000 square feet in an industrial section of Western Avenue. Although the dishes, furniture and figurines appear to be arranged almost at random, she insists there's "unified chaos," with certain rooms having certain themes.
She has liquidated estates for more than 20 years, first in Los Angeles and then in Las Vegas after coming to the valley 15 years ago.
In the online voting, she admits that she is a novice compared with some of her rivals, and is much more familiar with handing fliers to customers than sending out Twitter messages. But she is trying to learn in a hurry, hoping that the money could make possible improvements in "just basic stuff," such as a new phone system or even a fresh coat of paint.
Contact reporter Tim O'Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.
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b.b - Your initial post stated only that the article was unfair. Equal time for all entrants is what you said. Nothing stated about poor journalism. In reality, the link provided in this article takes the reader to the main Dell page that is being hosted by YouTube. It gives the reader the ability to see ALL the contestants. So, in essence, they are getting equal time. We (Las Vegas & the RJ) are only showing our support for the local business where we live.
Seasinger and Mea1349
It is not the fact that the store isn't worthy of an award, it is not good journalism. Never have I seen a news article with a youtube address that you could click on.
b.b - After searching the internet, I have found that more than a few of the other top 10 contestants have not only placed articles in their locals newspapers but have also had time shown on their local TV News stations. No disrespect intended but, I don't find anything unfair about supporting your own local small business'.
I think it is GREAT that the RJ is promoting this local business. I have been inside their antique mall & it is marvelous. These gals truly are the best. I am blessed to have found them. We need to support our locals every chance we get. Lets all help to build a stronger Las Vegas however we can. Please vote for them.
Thanks SeaSinger -we are the only Las Vegas business in the contest! It is a national competition. Our address is 1422 Western Avenue (between Charleston and Oakey) and the store name is Not Just Antiques. Thanks for your votes! Its only a click to vote!
I think it is fine for the RJ to promote this Las Vegas business. From my brief look at the contest, this is the only LV business. So why not promote them and support Las Vegas?
The RJ printing this story is unfair competition. Should not have been printed. It is totally unfair to other contestants.
They should give equal time to other entrants.